When the chips are down, it’s always nice to have someone to turn to for help. That was the case when Ozark Border Electric Co-op experienced its worst ice storm in its history in January 2009.

During its annual meeting held Aug. 7, the cooperative thanked U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives CEO Barry Hart for their role in helping restore power to the cooperative’s members.

“During the first 24 hours of the outages, we realized we needed help from other cooperatives and our first call was to the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives who arranged for 150 linemen from 20 cooperatives to assist us in restoring power,” said Ozark Border Manager Stanley Estes. “But we needed more help. That’s when our representative, Jo Ann Emerson, assisted by arranging for contractors working near our service area to come and assist us rather than going to another state.”

Emerson’s help was especially important because it kept more than 3,000 lineworkers in the area helping not only Ozark Border but also SEMO, Pemiscot-Dunklin and M&A Power cooperatives restore service.

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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – On the heels of her recent endorsement from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), Jo Ann Emerson today continues to focus on the need to create jobs as she launches her first television ad of the 2010 general election.

“We need jobs, not bigger government,” said Emerson. “Together we can get this economy moving again. Together we can stand up to President Obama and Nancy Pelosi to tell them enough is enough.”

The ad touts Emerson’s strong stand against the job-killing policies of higher taxes and bigger government pushed over the last 18 months by President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Democrats in Congress. While a liberal majority in the Congress forced these policies down the throats of an unwilling American public, Emerson fought to derail these proposals which threaten to further damage an already fragile economy.

When Democrats in Congress forced through the House a massive new energy tax disguised as a cap-and-trade scheme, Emerson, siding with Missourians in the Eighth District, said no. And as Congressional Democrats forced through a federal takeover of America’s healthcare system, Emerson stood shoulder-to-shoulder with rural Missourians to say no way. Now, as Democrats in the house seek to impose the largest tax increase in American history through the expiration of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, Emerson is again fighting for southern Missouri by saying no.

“There is a very clear choice in this election,” said Emerson spokesperson Jordan Clothier. “Do we want a Congresswoman in Jo Ann Emerson who is fighting the jobs-killing Obama-Pelosi agenda or will Missouri’s Eighth District send Nancy Pelosi a reliable vote?”

The ad begins airing today and will run on network and cable television throughout the Eighth District and can be viewed by clicking here.

WASHINGTON Perry County’s representative in Congress, Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) voted against the stimulus bill passed by Congress in early 2009, and she says that bill which contained more than $800 billion in new federal spending continues to disappoint Missourians. According to the Eighth District’s member of Congress, only $86 million of the state’s $974 million in requests from two key transportation grant programs have been fulfilled.

“Hurry up and wait is not a good strategy for stimulating our economy. I opposed the stimulus for two reasons: the spending was irresponsibly high, and I saw no way this money could be spent accountably by the federal government. The administration has proven both of these criticisms to be correct,” Emerson said. “We have a real need to spur growth in our rural economy, and we need strong transportation infrastructure not only to create jobs, but also to keep them,” Emerson stated.

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Jo Ann Emerson filed for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri’s Eighth Congressional District this morning in Jefferson City.  Emerson, a Republican, has served southern Missouri in Congress since 1996.

“Representing the Eighth District in Congress is a tremendous honor, and I am very much looking forward to the conversation about the issues on voters’ minds that we will have over the next several months,” Emerson said.  “Our congressional district is diverse, we have unique strengths, we’re home to wonderful people, and our voice is very important in today’s political environment.  I like to think we come to the national political discussion with common sense on our minds, not hyper-partisanship or narrow interests.”

According to Emerson, the political environment in the nation’s capital has never been more challenging.

“The next two years are crucial to Missouri.  I’m entrenched in a fight to prevent cap-and-trade taxes on the gasoline and electricity we use in our homes and economy.  I’ve long been working to lower the price of prescription drugs and to expand health care in rural areas of our country, by rejecting huge government expansion of our health care system that eliminates choices for Americans.  And we need to see through some major contributions to our economic infrastructure that will create jobs and grow opportunity in southern Missouri.  The next two years will bear out many of these discussions.  I’m looking forward to being part of some real solutions for the American people.”

She also noted that national liberal political interests are targeting every Republican seat they can.

“In a year where conservatives are sure to pick up seats in Congress, Nancy Pelosi and the liberal establishment are going to fight for any and every seat they can get in order to cling to power in the House.  But I think the policies of the liberal left have been roundly rejected in southern Missouri, and I look forward to the opportunity to work on an agenda where the ideas of our district are given the credence and merit they deserve,” Emerson said.

Tom Leible Reporting